Yunnan appoints new chief of Party

After three provincial-level officials in Yunnan province were investigated on suspicion of corruption, provincial authorities appointed Li Jiheng on Tuesday as the Party chief of the province, replacing Qin Guangrong, who will be moved to another post, Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday.

Li, who holds a doctorate in management from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, was previously the deputy Party chief of Yunnan since July 2006 and the provincial governor since February 2012.

Chen Hao, former vice-chairman of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, has been appointed deputy Party chief of Yunnan, People's Daily reported on Tuesday. Chen holds an MBA degree from the China Europe International Business School.

The appointments were made after comprehensive and careful thought, Wang Qinfeng, deputy head of the Organization Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, said at the cadre conference in Yunnan on Tuesday.

Li said at the conference that Yunnan is in a crucial period of economic transformation, facing rare opportunities and many challenges.

He added that improving people's livelihood is the toughest mission and the heaviest responsibility for provincial authorities.

The official retirement age for provincial Party chiefs is 65 and Qin, born in Hunan province in 1950, will turn 65 next year. He had been Yunnan Party chief since 2011. Li was born in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region in 1957.

Chen told the conference that Yunnan, as China's important bridge to the southwest region, has great advantages. He added he will devote himself to serving the Yunnan people, deepening economic transformation, and making the province more beautiful.

Chen, born in Jiangsu province in 1954, began his official career in Shanghai in 1979.

In March, Shen Peiping, former vice-governor of Yunnan, was placed under investigation for serious violation of discipline and laws amid the national anti-graft campaign, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection said in a statement on its website.

In July, Zhang Tianxin, former Party chief of Kunming, was removed for dereliction of duty and for taking advantage of his position for personal gain, according to the CCDI.

In August, Bai Enpei, former Yunnan Party chief, was placed under investigation, according to the CCDI.